Anyone virtualizing your WHS2011? If so how (software, hardware, etc.) and why?
I came across a post on avs a while back where someone, in relation to WHS2011, said "Once you virtualize, you'll never go back!" While I found that someone what intriguing, I didn't have any need at the time, but I am thinking of moving WHS2011 to a virtualized PC, but not sure where to start.
First off for me:Why
Right now I have an HTPC in the living room, an XBox 360 I am using as an extender in the bedroom, my desktop and the WHS in my home office. I just upgraded the HTPC, but I was thinking of repurposing that hardware for my desktop (which is about 4 years old) and consolidating as much as as possible on the server.
The How:
I've read about people virtualizing their HTPC and basically just using it as a recording hub and servicing extenders. I also just installed Plex Media Server on my desktop, but its really not powerful enough to handle it. I was thinking of upgrading my server anyway (its hardware is about 4 years old too), but I really didn't want to put Plex on my WHS2011 install as I like to keep the WHS2011 simple so nothing interferes with its main duties.
So I've thinking of virtualization. Essentially build a server that has three virtual machines:
1) WHS2011 - for client backups, remote access, webserver, and shared folders, all the stuff WHS does so well
2) A windows 7 install that will function as just a DVR hub using a Ceton InfiniTV4
3) Some other OS (maybe Ubuntu) that is a dedicated Plex Media Server
Then I put an extender (probably a Ceton Echo) for TV needs and something like a NUC for running XBMC or MediaBrowser for all my stored media in the living room(and probably split the output of the NUC to the bedroom as well, but that's another story!) and an extender down in my office for the TV there (now has my desktop hooked up).
(I'm working toward the DVR hub due to my wife getting very irrate when something comes up as unable to play due to copy protection in the office or when we had an HTPC in the bedroom)
The hiccups I see so far are:
1) What software to use? Looks like I can buy a license of Windows Server 2008 R2 for around $200 on ebay. Or ESXi is free, but I hear has some issues with the Ceton card.
2) I'm using Flexraid on a 14TB array in my WHS. I'm not sure how this would work. Would I run Flexraid on the base OS and share the combined drive or do I pass through each of the drives to the WHS virtual machine and use Flexraid there, and are there any issues?
3) What kind of hardware am I looking at? I was already thinking an Intel Core i7, but I know they have server specific CPU's as well. 16GB ram enough or go to 32GB?
So anyone doing anything like this? Got any advice? (Run away as fast as you can is acceptable advice!)
Thanks!